angel

thumb|Statue of the angel of the Annunciation, , [[Metropolitan Museum of Art]] thumb|right|Schutzengel ("Guardian angel") by Bernhard Plockhorst depicts a [[guardian angel watching over two children.]] thumb|right|The Michael (archangel)|Archangel Michael. An angel is a spiritual heavenly, or supernatural entity, usually humanoid with bird-like wings, often depicted as a messenger or intermediary between God (the transcendent) and humanity (the profane) in various traditions like the Abrahamic religions. Other roles include protectors and guides for humans, such as guardian angels and servants of God. In Western belief-systems the term is often used to distinguish benevolent from malevolent intermediary beings.

Emphasizing the distance between God and mankind, revelation-based belief-systems require angels to bridge the gap between the earthly and the transcendent realm. Angels play a lesser role in monistic belief-systems, since the gap is non-existent. However, angelic beings might be conceived as aids to achieve a proper relationship with the divine.